View source for Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirunindravur

{{Short description|Vishnu temple in Chennai}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name               = Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple
| image              = Bakthavtsala perumal gopuram.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption            = 
| map_type        = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption        = Location in Tamil Nadu
| coordinates        = {{coord|13|6|45|N|80|1|34|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| native_name        = Bhaktavatsala Perumal Kovil
| country            = [[India]]
| state              = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district           = [[Thiruvallur District|Thiruvallur]]
| location           = [[Thirunindravur]], [[Chennai]]
| elevation_m        = 
| deity  = Bhaktavatsala<br />([[Vishnu]])
| facade_direction = 
| temple_tank        = 
| tower              = 
| festivals= 
| architecture       = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity  = 
| monument_quantity= 
| inscriptions       = 
| year_completed         = 6th Century CE <!--To be verified-->
| creator            = [[Pallavas]] <!--To be verified-->
| website            = 
}}
'''Sri Bhaktavatsala Perumal''' temple is a [[Hindu]] temple, located at [[Thirunindravur]], a western suburb of [[Chennai]], [[India]]. It is dedicated to the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] deity [[Vishnu]]. Constructed in the [[Dravidian architecture|Dravidian style of architecture]], the temple is glorified in the ''[[Divya Prabandha|Naalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the early medieval [[Tamil literature|Tamil]] canon of the [[Alvars|Alvar]] saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desams]]'' dedicated to Vishnu, who is worshipped as Bhaktavatsala Perumal and his consort [[Lakshmi]] as Ennai Petra Thayar.

The temple is believed to have been built by the [[Pallavas]] of the late 8th century CE, with later contributions from the [[Medieval Cholas]] and [[Vijayanagar Empire|Vijayanagara kings]]. A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all the shrines and two bodies of water. There is a four-tiered ''[[gopuram|rajagopuram]]'', the temple's gateway tower, in the temple.

Six daily rituals and three yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the [[Krishna Janmashtami|Krishna Janmasthami]] festival, celebrated during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil]] month of ''Avani'' (August–September), being the most prominent. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the [[Government of Tamil Nadu]].

==Legend==
According to the temple's [[Sthala purana|Sthala Purana]], Bhaktavatsala Perumal is believed to have appeared to [[Kubera]]. According to another legend, [[Varuna]], the god of the waters, had worshipped [[Vishnu]] at this place. It is also said that Vishnu, returning from this place and accompanied by [[Lakshmi]], stayed here, which is why the town it is called Thirunindravur. It is also that [[Thirumangai Alvar]] did not sing any ''pasurams'' (hymns) here, and followed by Vishnu, followed [[Thirukadalmallai]] and sang a hymn, praising the deity Bhaktavatsala Perumal. Lakshmi requested Perumal to appear before the Alvar, but when he did so, Thirumangai Alvar had already reached Thirukannamangai. The deity once again appeared in the dreams of the Alvar, who perceived viewing Bhaktavatsala in Tirukkannamangai.<ref name=M34/><ref>{{cite web|title=திருநின்றவூர் பக்தவத்சல பெருமாள் கோவில்|url=https://www.maalaimalar.com/devotional/temples/2020/10/05065959/1942176/bhaktavatsala-perumal-temple-thirunindravur.vpf|accessdate=2 September 2023|publisher=Malaimalar|date=5 October 2020}}</ref>

==History==
The temple was built during the [[Pallava]] period of 9th century as seen from the various inscriptions in the temple. The earliest inscriptions of the temple is dated between 820 and 890 CE during the period of Nripatungavarman. There are inscriptions from the later [[Chola]] kings like [[Rajendra Chola II]] (1051–1063 CE), [[Virarajendra Chola]] (1063–1070 CE) and [[Rajaraja Chola II]] (1146–1173 CE). The Pallava inscriptions mention this place as Ninravur and some of them quote it as Virudhurajabhayankar-chaturvertimangalam, a sub-division of Punarkottam.<ref name=M36>[[#Madhavan|Madhavan 2007]], p. 36</ref>

==Architecture==
[[File:Thirunindravur (1).jpg|200px|thumb|left|[[Anjaneya]] sannithi located axial to the gopuram outside the tower]]
The temple is estimated to be 1500 years old.  The temple has a 5 tier ''[[gopuram]]'' at the entrance and two precincts.  The ''[[Moolavar]]''(presiding deity) of the temple is Bakthavasala.  The ''[[Moolavar]]'' is at a standing position facing east.  The height of the ''[[Moolavar]]'' is around {{convert|10|ft|m|abbr=on}}.  The ''[[Utsavar]]'' (procession deity) is called Patharaavi is made of [[panchaloha]] and is accompanied by two consorts as in most ''[[Vaishnavite]]'' temples.  There is a separate shrine for ''Ennai Petra Thayar'' also called Sudhavalli, the consort of Bakthavasala.  The temple also has separate shrines for [[Andal]], [[Sudarshana Chakra|Chakratalvar]], the [[Alwars|Alvars]], and [[Ramanuja]]. On the banks of a lake a few meters behind this temple is another temple for [[Rama]]. In this temple there is a statue of [[Hanuman]], lifting Rama and [[Lakshmana]] on his shoulders. The temple is administered by the [[Hindu]] Religious and Charitable Endowments department of [[Tamil Nadu]] government. The Pedda Jeeyar of [[Tirupati (city)|Tirupathi]] is the permanent trustee of the temple.<ref name=M35>[[#Madhavan|Madhavan 2007]], p. 35</ref>

==Festivals and religious practices==
[[File:Tirunindravur2.jpg|Temple Chariot|200px|right|thumb]]
The temple follows the traditions of the [[Thenkalai|Tenkalai]] sect of Vaishnavite tradition and follows [[Pancharatra]]. The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|puja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Vaishnavism|Vaishnava]] community, of the [[Brahmin]] community. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: ''Ushathkalam'' at 7 a.m., ''Kalasanthi'' at 8:00 a.m., ''Uchikalam'' at 12:00 p.m., ''Sayarakshai'' at 6:00 p.m., ''Irandamkalam'' at 7:00 p.m. and ''Ardha Jamam'' at 8:30&nbsp;p.m. Each ritual has three steps: ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for both Bhaktavatsala Perumal and Sudhavalli Thayar. During the last step of worship, ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument) are played, religious instructions in the ''[[Vedas]]'' (sacred text) are recited by priests, and worshippers prostrate themselves in front of the [[Iconography of Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu#Dvajasthamba and Pali Peedam|temple mast]]. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple.<ref name="dinamalar">{{cite web|title=Sri Bhasktavatsala Perumal temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=131|publisher=Dinamalar|access-date=31 May 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

The major festival celebrated in the temple are Chitra Pournami during the [[Tamil calendar|Tamil month]] of ''Chittirai'' (March - April), Tiruadyana Utsavam during ''Margali'' (December - January) and Brahmotsavam during Panguni (March - April). The other festivals are Sri Jayanti Utsavam during ''Aavani'', [[Navaratri]], [[Vijayadashami|Vijayadasami]], [[Deepavali]], and [[Makara Sankranti]].<ref name=M36/>

==Religious importance==
The temple is revered in the ''[[Nalayira Divya Prabandham|Naalayira Divya Prabandham]]'', the 7th–9th century Sri Vaishnava canon, by [[Thirumangai alvar]]. The Alvars have sung praise on the different forms of Bhaktavatsala Perumal. The temple is classified as a ''[[Divyadesam|Divya Desam]]'', one of the 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. <ref>{{cite news |title=Three famous temples at Tirunindravur, Tamilnadu |url=https://hindupost.in/dharma-religion/three-famous-temples-at-tirunindravur-tamilnadu/# |access-date=2 April 2024 |publisher=hindupost.in |date=18 February 2023}}</ref> Many [[Acharyas]] have also written songs on the various forms of God in this Temple.<ref name=M34>[[#Madhavan|Madhavan 2007]], p. 34</ref>

==See also==
* [[Divya Desam]]
* [[Religion in Chennai]]
* [[Heritage structures in Chennai]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
{{refbegin|2}}
*{{cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated |year=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3|ref=Ayyar}}
* {{cite book|title=An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam|url=https://archive.org/details/dli.jZY9lup2kZl6TuXGlZQdjZY2lZpy.TVA_BOK_0006115|last=R.|first=Dr. Vijayalakshmy|publisher=International Institute of Tamil Studies| location=Chennai|year=2001|edition=1st|ref=R.}}
* {{cite book|title=Vishnu Temples of South India Volume 1 (Tamil Nadu)|first=Chithra|publisher=Chithra Madhavan|last=Madhavan|isbn=978-81-908445-0-5|year=2007|ref=Madhavan}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bhaktavatsala Perumal Temple, Thirunindravur}}
{{Portal|India|Hinduism}}

{{Chennai Topics}}
{{Places of worship in Chennai}}
{{Famous Vishnu temples}}

[[Category:Divya Desams| ]]
[[Category:Perumal temples in Chennai district]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Tiruvallur district]]